Thanks so much for your patience in waiting for new vlogs. I am doing much better now, and physical therapy is helping me to soon be back on my own two feet.
In the meantime, my scooter and grabber are getting me where I need to go and making most things within my reach.
But now, on with today’s new vlog.
Many of us edit while we write, but it slows us down and saps our creativity.
This week, we reflect on advice often linked to Mary Heaton Vorse: “Editing during drafting is like driving with the emergency brake on.”
We should focus on momentum first, perfection later.
Writing draws on our creative thinking, while editing shifts us into analysis. When we mix them, we stall.
So let the messy draft happen and save the polishing for later.
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, because we writers learn best from each other.
But if you edit as you write or keep them as two separate processes, always remember: The only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
I definitely have an issue with this. I write with pencil and paper and it is so easy to cross out a word and write in another while I’m doing a story. When I look at the finished product I see lots of scribbles. Then I know I’ve overdone it.
I don’t edit as I write because I write my story first in longhand in a notebook.
I found it too distracting with spell check on my Word software to create a story on the computer. I have a hard time concentrating as it is and am easily distracted.
Ps I’m glad you’re up and walking, Patricia. So important.
Yea! Back in the saddle again!
I continue to write, but make short, one or two-word notes when I think of something. I keep a notebook next to me while I’m writing for this purpose. I’ve never tried writing blind. I think it might be difficult, considering my fingers don’t behave very well, and often type badly.
I’m so happy to see you back and doing well. Looking forward to taking your class at the Enrichment Academy, but until then, I learn a lot from your vlogs, both old and new.
The only editing I do as I write my stories is fixing the grammatical mistakes. When I finish my story, I engage the Read aloud button and stop it each time I hear something that doesn’t sound right. First edit complete, I leave it for a day or two and then go back and read it again. Sometimes, I have to downsize it when I submit it to publication. But, my fellow writers, before I do that, I make sure every word is properly checked, every comma, including the Oxford comma is there. And one more thing-every article is in… Read more »
I am so very happy to see you in person and know that you are on the road to recovery. Congrats to you! Editing after used to be easier, before those squiggly lines and auto red pen. They are so tempting. I love your idea on the towel and am going to try it…so, more later. Have a great week, and I look forward to more good news from you.
I will give this a try. I am a stop the flow of the story to fix it. Thank you